Apparatus for assembling boxes in rows.



M. PARIDON.

APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING BOXES 1N ROWS.

' APPLICATION FILED szP zo 1917. 1,300,761

Patented Apr. 15, 1919. 4 SHEETSSHEET 1.

fMwLRmiflh/z dkfiw M. PARIDON. APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING BOXES IN ROWS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.2U. I91?- Patented Apr. 10, 1919.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

lite/waif PARIDON. APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING BOXES IN ROWS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 20,1917- 1,300,761 Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

M. PARID-ON.

APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING BOXES IN ROWS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.20.19I7.

' Patented 15, 1919.

4 SHE HEET 4.

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MICHAEL IPARIDON, or BARBERTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE DIAMOND MATCH COMPANY, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS.

ArrARArus FOR ASSEMBLING BOXES IN ROWS.

Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

Application filed September 20, 1917. Serial No. 192,380.

To all whom it may concern I 7 Be it known that I, MIoHaEL PARIDON, a citizen of the United States, and resident of 'Barberton, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Assembling Boxes in Rows, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide an apparatus of simple and efiicient construction and operation for assembling small boxes, such, for example, as boxes of matches, in orderly rows, in order, more especially, to facilitate the manual operation of collecting the'boxes and wrapping them in packages of predetermined size and form. l

The form of embodiment of my invention herein selected for illustration, comprises an apparatus including in its construction a table; a reciprocable hopper into which the boxes to be packaged are promiscuously dumped and therein agitated; a series of vertical guide structures into which the boxes are progressively delivered in segregated groups by the hopper and thus arranged in predetermined rows adjacent a supporting table, and means whereby the succeeding rows in each structure are transferred therefrom to the table with the boxes of each row horizontally disposed in convenient position to be grasped and removed by an operative or operatives.

The invention, generally stated, comprises various features of construction and combinations of elements, all of which will be hereinafter described; the scope of the invention being defined in the appended claims. r

In the drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of a box assembling apparatus embodying the principle of my invention, part of the hopper and adjuncts being broken away for clearness. 1

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the apparatus, as viewed from the right of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse verticalsection of the apparatus, as onthe line 3-3 of Fig. l; the hopper beingrepresented in raised position. i

Fig. 4 is a similar section, as on the line l4.- of Fig. 1, showing boxes withinthe hopper and the associated guiding and grouping elements. I

through a portion of the said structure, as

onthe line 66 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section of the apparatus, as on the line 77 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a horizontalslide upon which the successive rows of boxes are supported at the foot of a guide structure, showing also a portion of the table upon which the boxes are deposited and arranged horizontally. In this view the relative positions of the boxes upon the slide and table in one stage of the operation, are illus- .trated.

Fig. 9 is a similar view showing the relative positions of'the boxes in another stage of the operation.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates a horizontal support comprising preferably a table sustained by standards 11; and 12 designates a box feeder'comprising preferably a capacious hopper or magazine arranged above and longitudinally of the table. This hopper. is designed to receive the boxes in a promiscuous pile preparatory to their orderly arrangement in predetermined rows within the convenient reach of operatives whose duty it is to collect the rows of boxes, and wrap them in packages of standard form and size. In the present instance the hopper comprises a bottom 13 and inclined sides and ends 14:, 15, respectively. The lower portion of the hopper is interiorly divided into a series of compartments by means of spaced transverse partitions 16 preferably of inverted V-form in cross-section. 'In the construction illustrated two partitions are employed, thus providing three compartments within the hopper. The number of compartments may, ofcourse, be increased or reduced as desired. The hopper has capacity for vertical reciprocation in order to agitate the boxes therein. Any suitable means for reciproeating the hopper may be employed. In the present instance the said hopper is supported upon a bed 17 provided at intervals with laterally extending lugs 18 which are arranged in pairs and are respectively secured to the upper ends of pairs of vertical guide rods 19. Each pair of rods extends through apertures in the table and is secured to a cross-bar 2O bearing anti-friction rollers 21 which rest on Corresponding eccentrics 22 carried by parallel shafts 23 beneath the table; whereby when the shafts are concurrently actuated the eccentrics are correspondingly rotated in a manner to raise or to permit the descent of the bar and rods t0- gether with the bed and hopper. The rods are vertically guided in upstanding guide posts 24 on the table.

The shafts 23 extend longitudinally of the table and have their bearings in boxes in the standards 11. These shafts are positively and concurrently driven in any suitable manner. In the present instance each shaft is provided adjacent each end thereof with a fixed gear wheel 25 which meshes with a gear wheel 26 loose, on a lower shaft 27 having its hearings in boxes in the standards. The gear Wheel 26 at the right hand end of the machine, as viewed in Fig. 1, is geared with and driven from a suitable source of power, such, for example, as the electric motor indicated at 28, Figs. 1 and 2; thus transmitting the power to the two shafts 28. The function of the gears 25, 26 at the left hand end of the machine is merely to prevent the twisting of the shafts 23 and thus insure their uniform rotation.

The lower shaft 27 is positively driven at a predetermined relative speed, for a purpose hereinafter mentioned, from the upper shafts 23 by means of fixed gear wheels 25 on'the latter in mesh with a common gear wheel 26 fast on the shaft 27.

By the above-described arrangement and operation of the hopper the promiscuously disposed boxes therein are rapidly shaken and thereby caused progressively to enter into the upper portions of stationary box receiving and guiding structures 29 which freely extend through appropriate openings in the bed and hopper bottom. These structures are of such character that they receive the boxes, ends downward, and arrange them adjacent the table in orderly rows containing severally a predetermined number of boxes. In the present instance each row comprises five boxes which are regularly deposited upon the table within the reach of the operative in order to facilitate the manipulation and wrapping of the boxes in two superposed rows requisite for a standard match package containing ten boxes. It is to be understood, of course, that the numerical capacity of each of the structures may be increased or reduced as the requirements of the desired package may demand.

Each of the said structures, in its preferred form, comprising a vertically-disposed body having on one side thereof bosses 30 which are bolted or otherwise secured to parallel rails 31 afiixed to lugs 32 on the adjacent posts 24: so as to extend longitud i nally of the table. These structures, it 1s to be observed, are arranged in pairs, that is, one pair for each compartment of the hopper. There are thus employed three pairs of structures in the typical form of apparatus herein illustrated. H

Formed in each body are a series ofvertical passages 33, preferably circular in cross-section, which extend from the upper end of the body through the major portion of the latter, each of said passages terminating in a substantially rectangular passage 84 which extendsto and through the foot of the body. The lower port-ion of the outer wall of each body is cut-away or reduced in front .of the passage, 34, as indicated at 35, while the rearward wall depends nearly to the top of the table. The diameter. of each cylindrical passage 33 is less than the length of a box, so as to preclude the entrance of any box from the hopper to the passage unless and until the box. is endwise presented thereto, which box is thus permitted to enter the passage in any position transversely of the latter. The cross-sectional area of this passage is such, preferably, that two boxes side by side may enter the same vertically with their longer sides parallel to the axis of the passage, or substantially so. The cross-sectional area of each lower passage and its relation to the upper passage are such that a single box is constrained to enter the lower passage 34 with the end of the box downward and its wider surface (top or bottom) disposed toward and parallel to the outer side of the body.

A pair of spaced box-positioning bars 36, each having a compound oscillatory and longitudinally reciprocative motion, is arranged at the junction of the two passages 33, 34. The space between the bars is equal to or slightly greater than the height (thickness) of a box so that a box cannot pass therebetween unless its end is properly positioned for entry into the underlying lower passage. There are two pairs of positioning bars, one pair for each series of guide structures. Each pair of bars extends throughout the length of the machine, the sides of the adjacent bodies being appropriately recessed, as at 37, to receive them.

The positioning bars, owing to their compound motion, variably agitate the boxes imposed thereon and progressively shift them to proper position for endwis'e entry individually between the bars. Any suitable means for actuating the bars may be employed. In the present instance the bars of each pair are rotatably and slidingly supported in brackets 38 on the posts 24. One of each pair of bars is extended beyond one end of the table and the remaining bar of each pair is extended beyond the other end of the table; the extended ends of the bars being provided with peripherally grooved cams 39. The adjacent cams at each end of the table are oppositely pitched in relation to each other. Between these cams extends an upright bar which is conveniently fastened at its lower end to the table, and at its upper end to the brackets 38 on the adjacent end posts 24. On the bar 40 are two laterally-extending stud rollers 42 which enter the grooves of the respective cams, whereby when the positioning bars are oscillated as hereinafter described the cams intheir variable action against the rollers 42 simultaneously reciprocate thebars in opposite directions to each other. Preferably the cams at the respective ends of the bars are so disposed that the bars of each pair are simultaneously' moved in opposite directions to each-other.

' The positioning bars are each provided adjacent the cam with a head 43, which may comprise the hub of the cam. This head has affixed thereto and wound thereonone end of a strap 44 which is securedat its upper end to the adjacent end of the hopper.

The head has also fastened and wound upon it, but in an opposite direction to the strap 44, one end of a strap 45 which is secured at its lower end to a contracting spring 46 conveniently attached to the floor adjacent to the end of the apparatus. Hence as the hopper is bodily raised and lowered as hereinbefore described each bar is partly rotated first in one direction and then in the reverse direction by the winding and unwinding of the respective straps on the head of the bar, the flexible connections effecting and permitting the oscillations of the several bars concurrently with their longitudinal reciprocations.

Mounted on the table so as to be reciprocable transversely thereof, directly beneath the respective pairs of guide structures 29, are a series of horizontal plates 47 which are so proportioned and arranged that their upper surfaces afford supports for the lower ends of the lowermost rows of boxes in the respective structures. These plates may be reciprocated in any suitable manner. In the .present instance each plate is secured to a cross-head 48 which is slidingly fitted to guide brackets 49 on the underside of thetable, the latter being transversely slotted for the free passage of the connection between the cross-head and the slide plate. A depending lug on the cross-head is connected by means of a link 49. to the upper arm of a lever 50 which is fulcrumed on one of the longitudinal shafts 23.beneath the table. The lower arm of the lever carries an anti-friction roller 51 which enters the groove of a facecam 52 fast on the shaft 27 which is geared with and driven its connections.

The openings 35 in the lower portions. of

the bodies of the guide structures are of such height thatxwhen the lowermost rows of boxes are supported on the proximate plates 47 the upper ends of such boxes extend slightly above the upper edges of the adjacent openings, and hence when the plates are moved in one direction, say to the right, (as viewed in Fig. 4) the lower ends of the lowermost rows of boxes in the right hand structures are carried outward to an angular position which permits the boxes to fall with their larger sides down ward, upon the top of the plates (see Fig. 8); and when the plates are moved to the left the lowermost rows of boxes in the left hand structures are similarly tipped and disposed upon the plates. As each lowermost row of boxes falls horizontally upon the underlying plate, the next succeeding row drops vertically upon the plate escapes such horizontal row, whereupon the latter row drops upon the table and immediately in front of the adjacent outer edge ofv the plate, as seen in Fig. 9. Hence in the succeeding movement of the plate to the right its leading edge pushes the contiguous horizontal row ofboxes outward upon the table. As the reciprocation of the plate continues the rows of horizontal boxes are successively removed from the lower portion of the right hand structure and advanced upon the table with the ends of the boxes of the adjacent rows end to end. Similarly the plate in its reciprocations acts uponthe rows of vertically-disposed boxes in the structure at theleft hand side of the machine and delivers them in succeeding rows horizontally to and ilnpels them across the adjacent side of the table.

Inasmuch as the boxes of each row thus imposed horizontally on the table are in spaced relation to each other, owing to their separation by the vertical partitions between the lower passagesofthe guide structures, I preferably provide means whereby the boxes ofeach row are shifted into edgewise contact with each ,other as rapidly as they are advanced on the table, in order to enable the row to be readily grasped and removed by the attendant. Such means, in the form illustrated. comprises pairs of converging strips 53 which are fastened to the table and arranged to extend into the paths of the end boxes of the respective rows and thus serve row on the plate until the edge of the plate as stationary cam walls for the outwardly moving groups of boxes, as clearly seen in Fig. 7.

The preferred form of apparatus herein described presents six box assembling stations,-three on each side of the machine,- all efliciently supplied with uniform rows of boxes segregated from a promiscuous pile contained in a single feed hopper. An attendant seated adjacent to the front of each station manually'grasps and removes the sucoessive rows of boxes as rapidly as they are advanced upon the table and thus is enabled with facility to arrange and wrap them in package form; each package containing, for example, two superposed rows of boxes as above mentioned. The number of stations and their appurtenances may be increased or reduced to meet particular requirements.

It is to be understood that my invention contemplates the feedin to any suitable or approved automatic pac aging machine of the rows of boxes successively delivered to the table. Also that the invention is not limited to the details of construction herein disclosed, as the same may be variously modified within the principle of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim- 1. In a box assembling apparatus, the combination with a box support, of a structure above the same having a vertical guide passage for a plurality of boxes in end to end relation to each other, a movable box supporting and carrying member arranged to afford a temporary support for the lower end of the lowermost box in the passage and so constructed that in one movement of said member the box resting endwise thereon is carried outwardly beyond the passage and tipped so as to fall flatwise upon said member, and that in the next succeeding movement of said member the box thus disposed thereon contacts with the next lowermost box within the passage and is thereby delivered to the box support and in advance of the said {)nember, and means for actuating said mem 2. In a box assembling apparatus, the combination with a box support, of a structure above the same having a vertical guide passage for a plurality of boxes in end to end relation to each other, a box containing hopper through the bottom of which the upper end of the structure extends, means for effecting relative vertical reciprocation between said structure and hopper whereby boxes contained in the latter are fed in endwise position to the respective passages of the structure, a movable box supporting and carrying member arranged to afford a temporary support for the lower end of the lowermost box in the passage, and so constructed that in one movement of said member the box resting endwise thereon is carried outwardly beyond the passage and tipped so as to fall fiatwise upon said memher, and thatin the next succeeding movement of the memberthe box thus disposed thereon contacts with the lowermost box within the passage and is thereby delivered a to the box support and in advance of said member, and means for actuating, :said member.

3. In a box-assembling apparatus, the combination with a box-support, of a structure above the same having a series of vertical box'guiding passages provided with lateral openings at their lower ends, means for feeding boxes in endwise position to the upper portions of the respective passages, a slide beneath said passages afiording a bottom therefor, and means for horizontally reciprocating said slide, said slide being so constructed and arranged that the lowermost boxes in the passages are withdrawn in tilted position through the openings and caused to drop flatwise in a row upon the slide in one movement of the latter and such row is then transferred to the table in the succeeding movement of the slide.

4;. In a box-assembling apparatus, the com bination with a boxsupport, of a pair of spaced box-receiving structures above the same, each structure having a series of vertical box-guiding passages, means for feeding boxes in endwise position to the upper portions of the passages of the respective structures, a member movable in a path beneath the two structures and constructed to afford a temporary support for the lower ends of the lowermost boxes in the respective passages, and means for actuating said member whereby the respective boxes resting thereon are alternately withdrawn from the said structures in oppositedirections to each other and deposited flatwise upon the support adjacent to the respective outer ends of said member.

5. I11 a box-assembling apparatus, the combination with a box support, of a pair of spaced box-receiving structures above the same, each structure having a series of vertical box-guiding passages provided with openings at the outer sides of their lower ends, a slide beneath the passages of the respective structures, and means for reciprocating said slide, whereby the lowermost boxes in the respective structures are withdrawn therefrom in alternation and imposed in flatwise position on the slide and whereby each row thus positioned from either structure is transferred-to the said support in the movement of the slide toward the other structure.

6. In a box-assembling apparatus, a boxreceiving and guiding structure provided with two communicating passages in vertical alinement with each other, the upper passage being of such cross-sectional formation as topermit theendwise entrance thereto of a box m-variouspositions transversely of the passage, the lower passage being of such cross-sectional formation as to permit the entrance thereto of a box in a single defined position, and means for agitating and positioning the box in the upper passage and insuring its entrance to the lower passage.

7. In a box-assembling apparatus, a boxreceiving and guiding structure provided with two communicating passages in vertical alinement with each other, whei eof the upper passage is circular in cross-section and the lower passage is rectangular in cross-section, said upper passage being of a diameter sufficient to permit the endwise entrance of a rectangular box thereto and said lower passage being roportioned to receive such box only when the box is positioned in direct alinement with the mouth of the lower passage.

8. In a box-assembling apparatus, a boxreceiving and guiding structure provided with two communicating passages in vertical alinement with each other, whereof the upper passage is circular in cross-section and the lower passage is rectangular in crosssection, said upper passage being of a diameter suflicient to permit the endwise entrance of a rectangular box thereto and said lower passage being proportioned to receive such box when the box is positioned in direct alinement with the mouth of the lower passage, and means for agitating and positioning the box in the upper passage and insuring its entrance to the lower passage.

9. In a box-assembling apparatus, a boxreceiving and guiding structure provided with two communicating passages in vertical alinemlent with each other, the upper passage being of such cross-sectional forma tion as to permit the endwise entrance thereto of a box in various positions transversely of the passage, and the lower passage being of such cross-sectional formation as to permit the entrance thereto of a box in a single defined position, a pair of spaced box-positioning members at the lower portion of the upper passage, and means for agitating the said members.

10. In a box-assembling apparatus, a boxreceiving and guiding structure provided with two communicating passages in vertical alinement with each other, the upper passage being of such cross-sectional formation as'to permit the endwise entrance thereto of a box in various positions transversely of the passage, and the lower passage being of such cross-sectional formation as to permit the entrance thereto of a box in a sin gle defined position, a pair of spaced parallel bars at the lower portion of the upperpassage, and means for oscillating and longitudinally reciprocating said bars.

"of such cross-sectional formation as to per-- mit the entrance thereto of a box in a single defined position, spaced parallel box-positioning bars extending into the upper passages of the respective guides, and means for agitating said bars.

12. In a box-assembling apparatus, the combination with a box support, of a structure above the same having a series of vertical box-guiding passages, a box-containing hopper in communication with the upper ends of the passages, means for reciprocating the hopper, parallel box-positioning bars extending into the guide passages, and connections between said bars and the hopper whereby when the hopper is reciprocated the bars are oscillated.

13. In a box-assembling apparatus, the combination with a box support, of a structure above the same having a series of vertical box-guiding passages, a box-containing hopper in communication with the upper ends of the passages, means for reciprocating the hop er, parallel box-positioning bars extending into the guide-passages, flexible connections between said bars and the hopper whereby when the hopper is reciprocated the bars are oscillated, and means whereby said bars are longitudinally reciprocated concurrently, with their oscillations.

14. In a box-assembling apparatus, the combination with a box-support, of a series of structures arranged above the same in spaced relation to each other, each of said structures having a series of vertical boxguiding passages, spaced parallel box-positioning bars extending into said passages, means for agitating said bars, a box-containing hopper overlying the said structures and in communication with the upper ends of their respective passages, means for effect-- ing relative vertical movement between the hopper and said structures whereby boxes contained in the hopper are fed in endwise position to the passages of the respective structures, and means for withdrawing the lowermost boxes laterally from said passages and imposing them in horizontal position upon the said support.

15. In a box assembling apparatus, the combination with a box support, of a structure above the same having a series of vertical box-guiding passages, means for feeding boxes in endwise position to the upper portions of the respective passages, means for Withdrawing the lowermost boxes laterally from said passages and imposing them in horizontal position and in succeeding rows upon the said support, the boxes of each row thus positioned being in spaced relation to each other and the rows being successively advanced upon the said support, and means for moving the horizontally-disposed boxes of each row into lateral contact With each other as they are advanced upon the sup- 10 port.

Signed at Barberton in the county of Summit and State of Ohio this 18th day of Sept, A. D. 1917.

MICHAEL PARIDON.

Copies 01'? this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

